Unusual Victorian Hair Mourning Buttons utilitarian sign Mexican I believe and definitely

Mexican I believe and definitely with some years on him

and of course symbolic of heating things up

A real beauty of an old folk art ship in a bottle

The dark brown with gold decoration leather-like covering on the wooden handles shows some wear

Unusual Victorian Hair Mourning Buttons utilitarian sign Mexican I believe and definitelyI've never seen the likes of these, which I believe are Victorian mourning buttons, made with blonde hair encased in finely wrapped and knotted blue cord and thread, silk I believe. One presumes these were made to be sewn to a garment perhaps like toggles on a shawl or coat but I'm not entirely sure. Whatever the case, quite unusual as far as I know, and feeling like literal capsules of another time (and specific person!), which could easily be strung